Former President Donald Trump suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to hurt her electoral chances in remarks at his Wisconsin rally Saturday.
Putin endorsed Harris Thursday at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, also saying President Joe Biden was “our ‘favorite,’ if you can call it that.”
“[Putin] endorsed Kamala,” Trump said on Saturday. “I was very offended by that. I wonder why he endorsed Kamala. No, he’s a chess player. Congressman, should I be upset about that? Was it done with a smile, Ron [Johnson]?”
Trump: Putin endorsed Kamala. I was very offended by that. I wonder why he endorsed Kamala. No, he’s a chess player. Should I be upset about that? No. Was it done with a smile, Ron? I think it was done with a smile. pic.twitter.com/vTHwSzuxAA
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 7, 2024
Trump then claimed “no one in history had been tougher on Russia than Trump,” and remarked the Ukraine war would be “done” if he is elected. Putin had also remarked that Trump placed “so many restrictions and sanctions against Russia like no other president has ever introduced before him.”
Putin has occasionally weighed in on American politics, making public statements in favor of a candidate. He called Trump “a bright and talented person” in 2015 as the Republican was gearing up for his winning presidential campaign.
But the Russian president’s words could go beyond face value. Despite his kind words in public of Democrats, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said on Wednesday that Putin asked three Russian companies to use fake profiles to promote false narratives on social media, with the goal being to boost Republicans.
Trump also said on Saturday that he would support a modification to the 25th Amendment in a nod to Harris’s takeover as Democratic nominee while Biden appeared to display age-related mental slowness that dismayed voters.
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“I will support modifying the 25th amendment to make clear that if a VP lies or engages in a conspiracy to cover up the incapacity of the president, it’s grounds for impeachment immediately. And removal from office,” Trump said.
Harris has denied that Biden has shown an inability to lead due to his mental state.